Meet the Mom Bringing Style to Adaptive Clothing

Mindy Scheier wants to make fashion more inclusive for all.

By
Jody Allard

Feb 1, 2018

Mindy Scheier

Mindy Scheier has always loved fashion; she jokes that she goes to bed each night dreaming of her outfit for the next day. But fashion took on a new meaning for her when her 13-year-old son Oliver asked one night if he could wear jeans to school the next day.

For most of us, buying jeans is as simple as trying on a few pairs until we find the right fit. For Oliver, it was more complicated. Born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, Oliver struggled to button jeans and the narrow leg openings didn't accommodate his leg braces. Until then, Oliver's daily uniform had been sweatpants, a T-shirt, and a sweatshirt. But that night Scheier realized her son was more like her than she'd thought: He cared about fashion, too.

It was a simple request that was surprisingly difficult to fulfill. Adaptive clothing — clothing designed with disabilities in mind — options were limited, expensive, and anything but stylish. So Scheier stayed up late that night modifying a pair of jeans. She removed the zipper and fastened an elastic closure with a rubber band — a common trick among pregnant women who need a little more space. She cut the side seams of the jeans and added peel-and-stick velcro to allow them to close over his leg braces. When Oliver put on her creation the next day, he beamed.

Four years later, Scheier leads the Runway of Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing inclusion, acceptance, and opportunity to the fashion industry. She gave a TED talk earlier this month about how adaptive clothing empowers people with disabilities. Below, she shares what led her to found Runway of Dreams — and what's next for her.

Mindy and her son, Oliver.

Mindy Scheier

Jody Allard: How did you make the leap from cobbling together jeans for Oliver to starting a foundation?

Mindy Scheier: It wasn’t until Oliver told me he wanted to wear jeans like everyone else that I understood just how integral clothing is to a person’s confidence and self-worth. He told me he felt like he was dressing "disabled," which broke my heart. After I "MacGyvered" a pair of off-the-rack jeans for Oliver to meet his needs, the difference I saw within him was night and day. He felt sheer joy from being able to wear what the other kids were wearing. Seeing that transformation take place within Oliver propelled me to take this idea further and make fashion inclusive for all, which is the mission of the Runway of Dreams Foundation.

JA: What was missing from the adaptive clothing market?

MS: Before 2016, adaptive clothing was missing the mainstream element. It wasn’t stylish or on trend, and it focused mostly on functionality. Adaptive clothing was mostly targeted to the aging population, which left very little options for children and other demographics. The options available didn’t foster those feelings of excitement and empowerment that come from finding a new favorite dress or pair of jeans, which so many of us take for granted.

JA: How is Runway of Dreams bridging that gap?

MS: We’re introducing the industry to a population that hasn’t been recognized until this point, and we’re working to educate and dispel common misconceptions. To start, the disability population is not a niche market. There are over one billion people worldwide living with a disability, making up our largest minority group. That results in tremendous buying power — over $175 billion each year. Our goal is to shine a light on the human side of disability, showing that people with disabilities care about how they look and dress just like any other person.

JA: Your foundation goes beyond just helping people access stylish adaptive clothing. Can you tell me more about how it promotes inclusion and opportunity in the fashion industry?

MS: Adaptive clothing is just one part of the inclusive fashion movement. Our goal is that all aspects of fashion will be inclusive, from the design process and branding to the retail experience and customer support. Not only would mainstream adaptive collections be available in all styles and price points, but people with disabilities would be able to use accessible retail platforms, be visually represented in fashion campaigns, and be employed throughout the industry.

JA: Have you seen a change in the availability of adaptive clothing in the last few years? Major retailers like Target have recently launched their own adaptive clothing lines, for example.

MS: Absolutely, and it’s been incredible to witness. When I started the Runway of Dreams Foundation in 2014, there were no mainstream adaptive clothing options available. The industry as a whole is beginning to recognize this movement of adaptive fashion, and I’m incredibly hopeful about the future.

JA: What has this meant to your son? How does he feel about the work that you're doing?

MS: This movement has made Oliver feel less alone. He’s 13 now, and being able to express himself and wear the same brands and products as everyone else has deeply affected who he is as a person, especially during these formative years. This movement has already changed Oliver’s life, but it has the power to change millions more.

JA: You recently gave a TED talk about your son and your experiences. What was that like?

MS: There is no bigger stage than the TED platform to get important ideas out into the world. Part of our mission is to educate people and create a better understanding around this population. This includes the very human, emotional side that few people know or think about. Clothing has a deep impact on who we are and how we view ourselves, which is just as true for people with disabilities as it is for those who are able-bodied. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to not only share my own raw and honest story, but to spread our mission more broadly.

JA: What's next for you?

MS: One of our big priorities this year is increased representation of people with disabilities in fashion, both visually through modeling campaigns, as well as through employment initiatives within the industry. People look for inclusivity and authenticity when they shop, so we invite fashion and media brands to use our modeling "lookbook" as a resource to make their campaigns diverse and representative. The industry needs to be inclusive from the inside out.

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